Holy Parentheses

Batterson talked about how the Holy Spirit “hovers” over us. From Genesis until now, He is working, hovering, creating, leading. Read his book to hear his conversation. But I want to talk about how this notion and Psalm 139 connect. He knows us. He sees us. He hems us in, before and behind…Batterson used the word parentheses. I heard the Lord say, “Like a holy parentheses.”

And I had this visual of God’s hands forming a “holy parentheses” around my life. And your life. But it didn’t stop there.

Look at the first letters of this word. What does it spell? Parent. When I looked up the definition for the word here what it says:

Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek, literally, act of inserting, from parentithenai to insert, from para- + en- en- + tithenai to place

Uhm Wow. We are inserted in the Parent’s hands. Placed there by His design, held there by His love. What was David’s response to this Ahaa moment? “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Amen.

I just want to dwell on that today. As I “move and have my being,” as I work and rest, succeed and fail, think and dream, I reside in the Holy Parentheses. My Heavenly Parent placed me there, and “nothing can pluck me out of His hand.” Hallelujah.

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence? Psalm 139

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Jana Spicka

How do you capture a person in a few sentences? Jesus rescued my life. Now I walk in this redemption story that takes my breath away. Because of Him, I have a heart, a family, a voice, and a love that compels me to speak, write, and teach. And worship.

I am often intense, occasionally funny, and generally blunt to a fault. I speak the hard things the church sometimes avoids. I have crazy revelations from God. I treasure the Word. And — I am devoted to His call to rescue, restore, and release people through His goodness. I believe with all my heart that God longs for his children to walk in freedom and fullness. I love doing life with Him.